Dry matter intake and rate of passage in goats and sheep fed guar (Cyamopsis tetragonaloba) straw

The experimental period of 50 days was divided in 3 phases, first 30 days as pre-experimental adaptation period, followed by 10 days as rate of passage studies as well as voluntary intake on two times feeding and last 10 days duration for voluntary intake on three times feeding. The average OMI were 584.13±184.02 in goats and 612.03±107.88 g in sheep. The mean retention time of stained particles was significantly (P<0.01) higher in sheep (50.16 h) than in goat (42.16 h). Total body weight gain during the period was 1.33±2.4 in goats and 2.66±4.3 kg in sheep. It was concluded that goats and sheep could be maintained on guar straw as sole feeding with marginal weight gain.